Association between laboratory markers, clinical and radiological findings in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension: case–control study

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disease of raised intracranial pressure. Contribution of inflammatory mediators has been suggested in IIH pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to estimate certain serum inflammatory markers in IIH patients compared to normal subjects. Also, to examine the correlation between these laboratory parameters and the clinical and radiological characteristics of IIH patients. Results: Body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher among IIH patients compared to controls. Serum LDH, CRP, NLR and PLR were significantly higher, whereas serum iron was significantly lower in IIH patients compared to healthy controls. IIH patients with stenosis in brain MRV had significantly higher mean serum CRP compared with patients with normal MRV. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between serum CRP and the presence of stenosis in MRV, between serum LDH level and grade of papilledema, and between CRP, TIBC, and NLR with BMI. Conclusions: There is a significant elevation of inflammatory markers in IIH patients. Moreover, cerebral venous sinus stenosis and BMI were positively associated with higher markers of inflammation as CRP, LDH and NLR indicating the role of inflammation in thrombosis and obesity associated with IIH.